Grand Cru Classé en 1855 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend

Drank 1/18/19 at the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux event in Miami.  All wines from the 2016 Vintage.

Tasting pour, no formal notes taken.  Most of these wines are very tight, and will require 5-15 years to really come together.  Many will likely improve a few points with time.

A bit disappointed with this wine. I slightly preferred the Cantenac Brown. It was good, but expected more in a great vintage.

The 2010 Brane-Cantenac was picked September 27 to October 14. It remains closed on the nose despite vigorous aeration, although there are shards of light as it reveals gorgeous, stony black fruit and pencil lead aromas, plus a hint of iris. The palate is medium-bodied and incredibly well focused, displaying razor-sharp tannin and a balletic poise from start to finish that belies the awesome structure of this Margaux. It is almost clinical on the finish, completing a stunning Brane-Cantenac that has a long future ahead of it. A benchmark for Henri Lurton. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2019)

The 1961 Brane-Cantenac is a wine that I have been lucky enough to taste three or four times before. It’s a wonderful 1961 that comes racing out of the blocks, displaying vestiges of red fruit, autumn leaves, mint, chlorophyll and blood orange on the nose. It just feels multifaceted and more complex than the 1959, even if it does not quite reveal the same vigor. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and impressive concentration. It is maybe a little rustic in style but certainly shows more depth and concentration than the 1961 Rauzan-Sègla that I tasted a month earlier. There is a touch of Earl Grey and tobacco lingering on the finish. Maybe this is in gradual decline, since it does not match the stellar bottle tasted back in 2010, yet it remains a great Margaux. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, January 2019)

#margaux #grandcruclasse Medium intensity aromas of red fruits that later really shine on the palate like cranberries. Seemingly more Merlot than Cab. Decant. Long finish

Very funky. Like cow dung. Red cherry, sweet spices, pretty closed nose. Very silky on the palate, need hours of decanting. 2000 vintage

Dark purple color of this Second Growth Bordeaux. A powerhouse of aromas, juicy black fruits and spice. Palate displays full ripe fruits, blackberries, cherries and berries, with a big tannin structure that will age well. The long finish showed some mineral notes on the end. Drinkable now but this one is for the long haul. Wait and you will be rewarded. 

Black cherries, cigar, nice acidity with round finish.

Tasted 2000, 2001, 2005, & 2006. 2001 and 2005 were my favorites.

Showing beautifully. Powerful but elegant. Deep dark fruit but still with a firm charge of tannin giving freshness and lift. Still so alive.

Young, vibrant purple. Smells amazing. Black fruit on the nose. Full-bodied with the right amount of tannin.